Those who know me know that my favorite sport is professional football (NFL, not UFL), and that my favorite time of year is when the playoffs begin. Well boys and girls, the playoffs begin later today, so consider me a HAPPY MAN! We are officially 29 days away from the Super Bowl, and judging by most of the playoff teams, we should get a good one this year (except if somehow there is a Chiefs vs. Seahawks matchup). That being said, the twelve remaining teams have a long journey to navigate if they expect to be playing in the castle that Jerry built in 29 days. That journey begins today, and I will do my best to guide you there, beginning with my PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS (WEEK 1 EDITION).
If you aren’t scared, feel free to add yours in the comment section below this entry.
Girlfriend/Wife Special (Saints at Seahawks) – Ladies, if you want to spend time with your boyfriend/husband on Saturday, feel free to occupy their time until 8pm. That is when the playoffs officially begin. Although they may try to tell you (as I will my wife) that the 4:30 pm game is important also. If they do, feel free to call them a liar. I know that Seattle is one of the toughest places to play a road game in the NFL, but this might be the most lopsided playoff game in recent memory. I am giving the Seahawks NO CHANCE in this game, and it won’t even be close. As a matter of fact, I think the Saints went up by a touchdown as soon as their plane touched down in Seattle.
My Prediction: Saints 31 – Seahawks 10
Front Row vs. Back Row (Jets at Colts) – This matchup reminds me of high school. We will get a chance to see a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game, when the kids who always sat in the front of the classroom (Colts led by Peyton Manning) will face off against the dumb loudmouth disruptive kids that sat in the back of the class (Jets led by Rex Ryan). That being said, it should be a highly entertaining and well played game. This game will be a true test of wills between the Colts (peaking at the right time) offense and the Jets (not as good as they think they are) defense. This one will be close and a lot of fun, so fellas, put your foot down and make sure that your lady knows that 8pm Saturday night is football time. If you end up watching The Notebook instead of this game, scan you man card into your computer and email it to me at the address shown at the top of this page.
My Prediction: Colts 24 – Jets 20
Thunder vs. Lightning (Ravens at Chiefs) – What happens when the league’s best rush offense plays host to the league’s fifth-best run defense in a playoff game? I don’t know thE answer to that question right now, but I will know after the 1pm game on Sunday. This game will be strength versus strength, because the Ravens’ hard hitting defense (thunder) simply don’t let you run the ball, while Kansas City’s offense (lightning) lives by the running game. As I see it, the only way to beat the Ravens is to exploit their below average corners in the passing game (but throw at your own risk because Reed is back behind those weak corners). However, I doubt that Kansas City’s 30th ranked passing game will be able to accomplish this feat. Although Kansas City is another ridiculously difficult place to play on the road, I think that the Ravens’ been here before attitude and road warrior mentality (they are 6 – 3 on the road in the playoffs since 2000) will overpower the young, inexperienced Chiefs who will be playing their first playoff game since 2006.
My Prediction: Ravens 21 – Chiefs 10
WHY DID THEY HAVE TO PLAY IN THE FIRST ROUND?! (Packers at Eagles) – Whether my prediction for this game is right or wrong, I feel as though the winner of this game will be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl. That being said, I must admit that this is the hardest game of the weekend to pick (and the reason that I am writing this blog entry so darn late). As a matter of fact, I came extremely close to not picking this game, and just saying that it was too difficult to choose a winner. For those reading this who know me personally, you know that is simply not my style. To pick this game, I had to look beyond the superficial Vick vs. Rodgers talk, and really dive into the match-ups. This is where I discovered my pick to win this game. While both teams will certainly light up the scoreboard, because there will be big play threats all over the field in Vick, Jackson, Maclin, and McCoy for the Eagles and Rodgers, Jennings, and Driver for the Packers, the difference in this game lies on the defensive side of the football. Although, the Eagles defense is a pretty good unit and has played extremely well at times this season, in my opinion the Packers defense is much better. Although Vick has proven time and time again that he can be unstoppable, the Packers defense has as good a chance as any to prevent him from scoring on every possession. He definitely won’t look like he did against Washington in that video game played earlier this season. The bottom line is that the offensive skill players in the game are ridiculous and the quarterbacks are two of the best in the business. However, I like Aaron Rodgers against the Eagles defense slightly better than I like Vick against the likes of Clay Mathews, Charles Woodson, and Nick Collins. Don’t miss this one, it will be a shootout. If you are a fan of Big 10 football and enjoy watching three yards and a cloud of dust, this is not the game for you.
My Prediction: Packers 38 – Eagles 35
Tune in next week for PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS (WEEK 2)….
Showing posts with label seattle seahawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seattle seahawks. Show all posts
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
THE MYTHICAL BOOK
Can someone please show me the official NCAA rulebook? If you have a copy, please send it to me. I will even send you a self-addressed, pre-paid, Fed-Ex envelope in which to send it. I challenge anyone to produce this document, because I simply don’t believe that it exists. Until I see this book with my own eyes I will believe that the National Committee of Asinine Administrators are simple making up the rules as they go along, with a focus on accommodating the growth of their pocket books and the well-being of their highest revenue generating member institutions.
It’s no secret that I hate the NCAA, and would like nothing more than to see this hypocritical organization broken up like the $710 million revenue generating monopoly that they are. (This $710 million figure is according to THEIR 2009-2010 revenue budget), so FORGIVE ME FOR THINKING THAT THEY ARE NOT REPORTING EVERYTHING AND THAT THIS NUMBER IS INDEED UNDERSTATED!
I know that I may sound like the Mad Blogger right now (I keep hearing a voice in the back of my head shouting “tell’em why you mad son”), but the NCAA’s handling of the most recent incident at The University of Ohio State (at least that's what Pryor thinks that school is called) is absolutely ridiculous. Everyone outside of Auburn, Alabama should be mad as hell at this farce of a punishment that was given out to the NCAA darlings that reside in Columbus Ohio. Auburn fans, just keep your mouth shut on this one because you all are currently getting away with things that would make former SMU boosters proud (Cam Newton may be the highest paid state employee in Alabama).
Apparently four prominent (and six total) Buckeye football players (and allegedly student-athletes) have been found by the NCAA to have accepted improper benefits. These benefits were the proceeds that the players made by selling championship rings, jerseys, and other awards for cash. While I disagree with 90% of NCAA rules, I do believe that these stupid rules should be enforced fairly and evenly throughout all of their member institutions. This means that if players at two different schools violate an NCAA rule, they should be subject to the same punishment. This is obviously not the case with the NCAA. Apparently the punishment for selling memorabilia is a four to five game suspension (although I seriously doubt that we will see that in writing anywhere). I am guessing that this is the punishment because University of Georgia wide receiver AJ Greene (who should be the first receiver drafted in April) was forced to sit out four games and pay back the proceeds that he got from selling an Independence Bowl jersey. He sat out the first four games of Georgia’s season (presumably because they were the next four games after he was found to have violated the rules), which basically ended their season before it got started. The University of Ohio State on the other hand is governed by a different set of rules. Since they are among the NCAA and the bowl system's favorite programs, the punishment for their star players will be slightly different from Greene’s. They will face a five game suspension as opposed to Greene’s four game ban, however, this suspension does not start until next season. This means that these players will be able to play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 4th.
Many people are wondering how you can suspend players for the following season for violations that you discovered this season. Also isn’t it much more of a deterant to other players if the players are forced to miss a BS (the “C” is optional, so you can include it if you like) game. It is logical for people to feel this way, but the logical people who have these questions must remember two things. 1) The NCAA is not a logical organization therefore they do not make logical decisions, EVER! and 2) This is The University of Ohio State, which means that they are indeed above the law.
Just think back to the days of Maurice Clarett, who received thousands of dollars in improper benefits while leading the old Scarlett and Gray to a National Championship in 2002. In addition to the improper benefits, he repeatedly lied to NCAA investigators about his dealings in Columbus. Instead of punishing the program, the NCAA let The University of Ohio State simply toss Clarett to the wayside, without suffering any punishment. So in essence, the player who led the team in rushing and practically won the National Championship for them single-handidly (by making great offensive and defensive plays) was dismissed from school (which he deserved), but the school got to keep their National Championship and all of the revenue that came with it, and coach sweater-vest is still stalking the sidelines in Columbus beating up on glorified high school teams around the state of Ohio, while playing in a BS game almost every year. Their non-conference schedule annually includes Ohio University, Akron, and Youngstown State. In addition to that, they play in a Big Ten Conference that usually proves to be pretty weak, yet year in and year out they are highly ranked and virtually ensured in playing in a top bowl game. Even this season, when the Big Ten Conference had a three-way tie at the top, the Buckeye's still received a BS bid over Michigan State, because they have more of a national profile and they “travel well” (I guess any vacation is better than going to Cleveland), and thanks to the NCAA they will be traveling with their starting quarterback, running back, and two other key starters.
The thing that really makes this punishment laughable is the fact that the four key players that were suspended for the first five games of next season are all eligible to enter the NFL draft. If they choose to do so (which I am sure at least three will), The University of Ohio State would receive virtually no punishment for this incident, which is to be suspected because the boys up there in Columbus are definitely above the law. The NCAA stated along with this decision that postseason play is a “unique opportunity” that is “evaluated differently” when it comes to punishment, which is in essence saying that this is a high-profile game and we want to put our best product on the field, damn the rules that we created to govern ourselves by.
Although I gladly cheer each time this asinine organization makes a bone-headed decision that makes them look like the idiots that they are, I must applaud them for at least pretending to crack down on players who sell their memorabilia and paraphanelia. There are some that argue that these items belong to the players and are theirs to sell if they please. I strongly disagree with this argument, because this will open the door to players selling their $300 conference championship rings to boosters for $20,000. If that wouldn’t amount to a recruiting advantage, I don’t know what would. Just imagine coach sweater-vest telling a recruit that he should come to The University of Ohio State where he can win Big-Ten championships and sell the rings for tens of thousands of dollars. Worse yet, boosters of schools that are recruiting high profile prospects could potentially start buying thier high school championship rings and t-shirts for thousands of dollars, just to let the recruits know how much they "love a winner".
For all of the Division 1 athletes that may read this entry, I want to leave you with some words of advice. Do not sell your personal rings and other awards until you are eligible to go pro, and your chances of getting away with it increases ten-fold if you attend The University of Ohio State.
One Final Thought: The NCAA ruled the players eligible to play, but the idiots at The University of Ohio State can take a stand and do the right thing by suspending the players themselves. I seriously doubt that they will do such a thing, but there is still the remote possibility that they will do what's right.
AND NOW FOR MY BALLER & SCRUB OF THE WEEK:
BALLER OF THE WEEK: LeBron James (Miami Heat) – Last week he messed around and got a triple-double against the Lakers. LeBron proved once again that he is the best player in the league with his 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists on Christmas day.
BALLER OF THE WEEK: Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) – 25 of 37 for 404 yards with 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. They say that big-time players show up in big-time games, which is what Rodgers did in a must win game for his team’s playoff hopes.
SCRUB OF THE WEEK: The NFC West – If Seattle beats St. Louis on Sunday they will win the division with a 7-9 record. Worse yet, they will have a HOME game to open the playoffs. If this happens, something tells me the NFL will be reseeding playoff teams by record next season. The NFL also shares in this honor for making this game the NBC Sunday Night Football game. What did the rest of us do to deserve to have this as a nationally telvised game? This punishment should be reserved for the people in Seattle and St. Louis only!
Totally Unrelated to the World of Sports: If you enjoy hip-hop and are in the market for something new to bump in your iPod, I strongly recommend Friday Night Lights by J. Cole. Give it a listen if you haven't already, you won't be disappointed. As a matter of fact, if you download it for FREE from his website at http://www.jcolemusic.com/ and don't like it, I will give you your money back!
It’s no secret that I hate the NCAA, and would like nothing more than to see this hypocritical organization broken up like the $710 million revenue generating monopoly that they are. (This $710 million figure is according to THEIR 2009-2010 revenue budget), so FORGIVE ME FOR THINKING THAT THEY ARE NOT REPORTING EVERYTHING AND THAT THIS NUMBER IS INDEED UNDERSTATED!
I know that I may sound like the Mad Blogger right now (I keep hearing a voice in the back of my head shouting “tell’em why you mad son”), but the NCAA’s handling of the most recent incident at The University of Ohio State (at least that's what Pryor thinks that school is called) is absolutely ridiculous. Everyone outside of Auburn, Alabama should be mad as hell at this farce of a punishment that was given out to the NCAA darlings that reside in Columbus Ohio. Auburn fans, just keep your mouth shut on this one because you all are currently getting away with things that would make former SMU boosters proud (Cam Newton may be the highest paid state employee in Alabama).
Apparently four prominent (and six total) Buckeye football players (and allegedly student-athletes) have been found by the NCAA to have accepted improper benefits. These benefits were the proceeds that the players made by selling championship rings, jerseys, and other awards for cash. While I disagree with 90% of NCAA rules, I do believe that these stupid rules should be enforced fairly and evenly throughout all of their member institutions. This means that if players at two different schools violate an NCAA rule, they should be subject to the same punishment. This is obviously not the case with the NCAA. Apparently the punishment for selling memorabilia is a four to five game suspension (although I seriously doubt that we will see that in writing anywhere). I am guessing that this is the punishment because University of Georgia wide receiver AJ Greene (who should be the first receiver drafted in April) was forced to sit out four games and pay back the proceeds that he got from selling an Independence Bowl jersey. He sat out the first four games of Georgia’s season (presumably because they were the next four games after he was found to have violated the rules), which basically ended their season before it got started. The University of Ohio State on the other hand is governed by a different set of rules. Since they are among the NCAA and the bowl system's favorite programs, the punishment for their star players will be slightly different from Greene’s. They will face a five game suspension as opposed to Greene’s four game ban, however, this suspension does not start until next season. This means that these players will be able to play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 4th.
Many people are wondering how you can suspend players for the following season for violations that you discovered this season. Also isn’t it much more of a deterant to other players if the players are forced to miss a BS (the “C” is optional, so you can include it if you like) game. It is logical for people to feel this way, but the logical people who have these questions must remember two things. 1) The NCAA is not a logical organization therefore they do not make logical decisions, EVER! and 2) This is The University of Ohio State, which means that they are indeed above the law.
Just think back to the days of Maurice Clarett, who received thousands of dollars in improper benefits while leading the old Scarlett and Gray to a National Championship in 2002. In addition to the improper benefits, he repeatedly lied to NCAA investigators about his dealings in Columbus. Instead of punishing the program, the NCAA let The University of Ohio State simply toss Clarett to the wayside, without suffering any punishment. So in essence, the player who led the team in rushing and practically won the National Championship for them single-handidly (by making great offensive and defensive plays) was dismissed from school (which he deserved), but the school got to keep their National Championship and all of the revenue that came with it, and coach sweater-vest is still stalking the sidelines in Columbus beating up on glorified high school teams around the state of Ohio, while playing in a BS game almost every year. Their non-conference schedule annually includes Ohio University, Akron, and Youngstown State. In addition to that, they play in a Big Ten Conference that usually proves to be pretty weak, yet year in and year out they are highly ranked and virtually ensured in playing in a top bowl game. Even this season, when the Big Ten Conference had a three-way tie at the top, the Buckeye's still received a BS bid over Michigan State, because they have more of a national profile and they “travel well” (I guess any vacation is better than going to Cleveland), and thanks to the NCAA they will be traveling with their starting quarterback, running back, and two other key starters.
The thing that really makes this punishment laughable is the fact that the four key players that were suspended for the first five games of next season are all eligible to enter the NFL draft. If they choose to do so (which I am sure at least three will), The University of Ohio State would receive virtually no punishment for this incident, which is to be suspected because the boys up there in Columbus are definitely above the law. The NCAA stated along with this decision that postseason play is a “unique opportunity” that is “evaluated differently” when it comes to punishment, which is in essence saying that this is a high-profile game and we want to put our best product on the field, damn the rules that we created to govern ourselves by.
Although I gladly cheer each time this asinine organization makes a bone-headed decision that makes them look like the idiots that they are, I must applaud them for at least pretending to crack down on players who sell their memorabilia and paraphanelia. There are some that argue that these items belong to the players and are theirs to sell if they please. I strongly disagree with this argument, because this will open the door to players selling their $300 conference championship rings to boosters for $20,000. If that wouldn’t amount to a recruiting advantage, I don’t know what would. Just imagine coach sweater-vest telling a recruit that he should come to The University of Ohio State where he can win Big-Ten championships and sell the rings for tens of thousands of dollars. Worse yet, boosters of schools that are recruiting high profile prospects could potentially start buying thier high school championship rings and t-shirts for thousands of dollars, just to let the recruits know how much they "love a winner".
For all of the Division 1 athletes that may read this entry, I want to leave you with some words of advice. Do not sell your personal rings and other awards until you are eligible to go pro, and your chances of getting away with it increases ten-fold if you attend The University of Ohio State.
One Final Thought: The NCAA ruled the players eligible to play, but the idiots at The University of Ohio State can take a stand and do the right thing by suspending the players themselves. I seriously doubt that they will do such a thing, but there is still the remote possibility that they will do what's right.
AND NOW FOR MY BALLER & SCRUB OF THE WEEK:
BALLER OF THE WEEK: LeBron James (Miami Heat) – Last week he messed around and got a triple-double against the Lakers. LeBron proved once again that he is the best player in the league with his 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists on Christmas day.
BALLER OF THE WEEK: Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) – 25 of 37 for 404 yards with 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. They say that big-time players show up in big-time games, which is what Rodgers did in a must win game for his team’s playoff hopes.
SCRUB OF THE WEEK: The NFC West – If Seattle beats St. Louis on Sunday they will win the division with a 7-9 record. Worse yet, they will have a HOME game to open the playoffs. If this happens, something tells me the NFL will be reseeding playoff teams by record next season. The NFL also shares in this honor for making this game the NBC Sunday Night Football game. What did the rest of us do to deserve to have this as a nationally telvised game? This punishment should be reserved for the people in Seattle and St. Louis only!
Totally Unrelated to the World of Sports: If you enjoy hip-hop and are in the market for something new to bump in your iPod, I strongly recommend Friday Night Lights by J. Cole. Give it a listen if you haven't already, you won't be disappointed. As a matter of fact, if you download it for FREE from his website at http://www.jcolemusic.com/ and don't like it, I will give you your money back!
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